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Leno to host award ceremony in Israel

The Associated Press

Updated:
05/08/2014 06:07:43 PM EDT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Jay Leno sees a small silver lining in the recent collapse of U.S.-backed Mideast peace talks: It should make his job just a little easier when he performs in front Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later this month.

"I guess any American that's not John Kerry is more than welcome there right now," Leno said.

The late night legend is heading to Israel on May 22 to host the awarding of the $1 million Genesis Prize. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is being honored as the first recipient of "the Jewish Nobel Prize" for years of public service and philanthropy.

Netanyahu will headline a list of more than 400 dignitaries in the audience. Leno says both Netanyahu and Bloomberg can expect to be the targets of some his zingers.